The Sunday Junkie: Jan. 20 edition

Vitor Belfort shook up the title pictures in two divisions, Michael Bisping fell short in his latest championship eliminator, and Bellator MMA kicked off its Spike TV era with a successful Season 8 debut.

And in this week’s edition of “The Sunday Junkie,” our weekly reader-feedback feature, MMAjunkie.com readers discussed those topics and more.

This week’s winning entry, which came from Japan’s Randal M. Nelson, explains why Belfort’s bizarre post-fight speech actually made him just as guilty as the man he called out.

For his winning entry, Randal receives a free one-year subscription to “Fighters Only” magazine, the world’s leading MMA and lifestyle magazine.

Want to submit to next week’s edition of The Sunday Junkie? Scroll to the bottom of the page for instructions.

Also, as a reminder, please be sure to include your hometown and stick within the 150-word limit (and include your submission in the body of an email, not in an attachment). Many quality submissions this week didn’t meet those minimum guidelines and couldn’t be considered for publication.

(Pictured: Michael Bisping)

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BELFORT NO BETTER THAN SONNEN FOR CALLING OUT JONES

Call it hypocrisy, call it “in the moment,” call it whatever. Vitor Belfort calling out Jon Jones after his TKO victory of Michael Bisping at Saturday’s UFC on FX 7 event makes him no better than Chael Sonnen taking a No. 1 light-heavyweight contender’s spot after losing to middleweight champion Anderson Silva. If granted a rematch with Jon Jones (which we seriously doubt), then Belfort would become the very thing he just shunned: a “line cutter.” Maybe he should realize he just knocked out a Top 10 middleweight and stick with that class. If he wants Jones or Sonnen, win a fight at 205 pounds.

Randal M. Nelson
Iwakuni, Japan

BELFORT IS NOW NO. 1 MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDER

Vitor Belfort’s win over the would-be No. 1 contender should make him the new No. 1 contender. Michael Bisping was promised a title shot against Anderson Silva should he get past Vitor Belfort. However, he lost, Belfort won, and Silva remains without an opponent in the middleweight division. Except perhaps, Belfort. How many guys does Belfort need to knock out before he gets another shot at a UFC belt? Sure, he lost decisively to Silva at UFC 126, but he’s since racked up three victories, including two “Knockout of the Night” performances. His sole loss in this period was against Jon Jones on two weeks’ notice and in a heavier weight class. Belfort has beat every middleweight he has fought with the exception of Silva back in February 2011. A rematch between these two would clearly be a fight between the top two middleweights in the world.

Andrew Ponton
Oslo, Norway

MACHIDA-HENDERSON WINNER, NOT BELFORT, DESERVES TITLE SHOT

Vitor Belfort looked every bit of his old self at UFC on FX 7 while derailing any short-term title dreams for Michael Bisping. After an impressive victory, Belfort took to calling out Chael Sonnen and Jon Jones. Although Belfort might have been the only opponent to ever have Jon Jones in trouble in a fight, he was eventually submitted via keylock. No to mention he was stopped by Anderson Silva by an amazing front kick in a 185-pound title fight. Two straight title-fight losses (both by stoppage) and going 3-2 in your past five fights does not merit a third title shot in two years. He called out Sonnen for getting a third and called him a clown. I am sure Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson are thinking the same of Belfort.

Tripp Robbins
Herndon, Va.

BELFORT VS. WEIDMAN FOR NO. 1 CONTENDER

Vitor Belfort proved at UFC on FX 7 that he is still a young dinosaur when he kicked the dreams of a title fight right out of Michael Bisping’s head and followed up with some hammerfists. Belfort hasn’t lost a fight at middleweight besides champ Anderson Silva. Chris Weidman was told by the UFC he needs another win to get a crack at the title before he pulled out of a bout with Tim Boetsch at UFC 155. To me this seems like the only reasonable match up to determine a No. 1 contender at middleweight. Silva can’t duck a bout with Weidman if he adds Belfort to his list of victims, and a Belfort win would mean he has four straight victories in the weight class. Planning this bout would also allow for the new Strikeforce imports to find their place in the wish-washy UFC ranking system.

Brenden Hutchens
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

BISPING LOSS OPENS TO DOOR FOR WEIDMAN’S TITLE SHOT

While the expectation was that Michael Bisping would be next in line for a middleweight title shot against champion Anderson Silva, someone forgot to notify Vitor Belfort of the game plan. Now, instead of an international showcase pitting a Brit against the Brazilian champion, the UFC must retool a title match that will lure fans. However, all it not necessarily lost. After all, an England vs. Brazil matchup would be an unlikely pay-per-view draw in the U.S., especially with Bisping being a huge underdog. Enter the undefeated Chris Weidman. Although he is not a household name, he is undefeated and has emerged victorious over formidable challengers with knockout and submission bonuses. Most importantly, he possesses the skill that might be Silva’s kryptonite: superior wresting. If Weidman is billed as the second coming of Chael Sonnen, the UFC may have a promotable championship fight on its hands.

Greg Yanke
Chandler, Az.

BISPING PROVES VERY GOOD, NOT GREAT

Michael Bisping is a very good fighter. But as he proved at UFC on FX 7, he is not a great fighter. He makes it to the edge of a title shot and goes home with a loss. Dan Henderson? Highlight KO for the ages. Chael Sonnen? Had a good fight, but lost a close decision. Now, Vitor Belfort sends him packing again. Where do you go from here? What do you do with a fighter in his mid 30s who, even with his best efforts, is not a contender anymore? More than likely, he becomes the Clay Guida of middleweights: a pretty good gatekeeper on your way to the top. Big-money fights are always good, but when you don’t have a real rival, and people aren’t shouting to see you fight, those fights don’t exist. Thanks for all the great fights, Mike. I think the best of Bisping may be in the rearview mirror.

Don Nichols
Terre Haute, Ind.

BISPING BLOWS IT AGAIN

I am a huge fan of Michael Bisping’s, but this is the third time he has come up short for a shot at the title. My heart wanted him to win, but my head told me he wouldn’t. This was his last chance, period. He will never be in that top bracket in the UFC. It is evident from his record that when he comes up against a top opponent, he loses. Losses to Rashad Evans, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen and now Vitor Belfort all prove this. He is missing that explosive knockout power or submission game. The only way he can win seems to be on points or gassing out his opponent at this stage of his career. I will continue to support “The Count” as he is the pioneer of British MMA. However, he has had his last chance at securing a title shot. Back to the drawing board.

Ross Woodward
Co. Durham, England

BISPING’S LANGUAGE WAS EMBARRASSING

During his post-fight interview at UFC on FX 7, Michael Bisping did something on live network television that shouldn’t ever be done: He dropped an “F” bomb that was just as audible as the boos for Pedro Noble during Noble’s “acting” earlier in the night. I understand Bisping may have been emotional, but swearing on live TV in front of millions people, potentially with their families, was juvenile and embarrassing to the UFC. With Bisping being as popular as he is, and with him being a potential role model to the younger viewers, you simply cannot let emotions get the best of you in a live setting. Wait until you go backstage and then drop a whirlwind of expletives, take a breath and calm down. You got knocked out, it happens. Smarten up!

Cody Ryan
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

DAN MIRAGLIOTTA STRIKES AGAIN

Dan Miragliotta has been one of the worst referees since he started working UFC events. How can you forget about when he poked Heath Herring in the eye during the staredown with Brock Lesner? It was the same eye that Lesner smashed at the beginning of the fight. Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse than that, during a fight between Matt Hamill and Roger Hollet At UFC 152, he proceeded to shout instructions, not once, but twice, to Hamill to watch the back of the head. Did he think Hamill would hear him? Now we have his most recent bad calls when we disqualified Alessio Sakara at UFC 154, and on Saturday when he ruled a no-contest during the prelim fight with Yuri Alcantara and Pedro Nobre. If Miragliotta can’t do the job right, then he shouldn’t do it at all.

Tim Kramer
Erie, Penn.

HERE COMES BELLATOR

Bellator’s debut on Spike TV, which saw almost 1.2 million viewers at one point, has to be considered a huge success. Bellator is now drawing way more viewers than the UFC gets on FUEL TV, and just as many as the UFC gets on FX. While Bellator has a tough test and needs to maintain the numbers during the midseason events, which usually get lower ratings because of less star power, the UFC has to have taken notice. Spike TV knows how to promote MMA events, and Bellator is developing some seriously good talent. While the UFC hasn’t really trashed Bellator before like they did with EliteXC and other promotions, it now seems like only a matter of time.

“mistmonster”
Winston-Salem, N.C.

CHANDLER DESERVED BETTER FROM BELLATOR

As a big boy with a job, I had to DVR the first Bellator card on Spike TV. When I heard the lineup, I was confused. I can understand coming out with a great title match up first. “Pitbull” Freire vs. Pat Curran was a good standup battle. The second fight was the return of “Babalu” Sobral. Good placement. But to put Michael Chandler and Rick Hawn next is offensive. Chandler is a star in the making, and you put him below Seth Petruzelli – and some other guy!? With the fight ending by way of a blown-out knee, it sure made for a main event for the ages. Chandler finished impressively and deserved that top spot. I get opening with the title fight, but to not put your top star as the main event is blasphemy. Bellator owes him an apology.

Don Nichols
Terre Haute, Ind.

FREIRE A VICTIM OF BAD TIMING

With Bjorn Rebney announcing a new championship rematch clause to take effect with Bellator’s move to Spike TV, it seems like Pat Curran’s razor-thin decision over Patricio “Pitbull” Freire would warrant such a rematch. Unfortunately for “Pitbull,” there is a line of contenders waiting for their shot at the belt. Season 6 tournament winner Daniel Straus has already waited long enough, and then there’s the delayed tournament final between Rad Martinez and Shahbulat Shamhalaev. I don’t blame Rebney for his decision to not grant Freire an immediate rematch. “Pitbull” just picked the worst time to drop such a close decision to the champ.

George “Bigshoe” Lannoo
Chesterfield, Mich.

BELLATOR CAN THANK UFC FOR NO. 2 STATUS

Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney has been patting himself on the back for the last few weeks. He’s been bragging about how he’s built the No. 2 MMA promotion in a little more than four years. I think he’s forgetting that Zuffa’s acquisitions of the WEC and Strikeforce is the reason he isn’t fourth. Rebney once said, “Bellator isn’t for sale!” Why would Zuffa buy a company with such little talent? Granted, fighters such as Michael Chandler and Pat Curran would cut it in the UFC, but the other 90 percent wouldn’t make it in pre-Zuffa WEC. There was a bigger talent pool in WFA when Zuffa bought that. Bellator re-signing Eddie Alvarez would kill their wallet, and Rebney will be calling Dana White for a deal by 2014.

Mike Alfonso
Philadelphia, Pa.

UFC SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS SIGNING ONE-ARMED NICK NEWELL

UFC President Dana White has been hesitant regarding one-armed XFC champion Nick Newell, and this past week, we learned from Newell that he won a “TUF” tryout fight but was turned away for lacking experience. The real issue here is fighter safety, and it should be taken seriously. One could argue that it is sexist to not let women compete against men, especially since “skill beats strength” and we have fixed weight classes. Yet you would be hard pressed to find an athletic commission that would sanction such a fight, even if there were no valid physical discrepancy, because of a cultural aversion to possibly condoning violence against women by men. It’s the same for the disabled and able-bodied. Time may prove that the only requirement should be weight or that we need an Invicta FC for “disabled” athletes, but until we guarantee both fighter safety and viewer interest, Zuffa is wise to approach cautiously.

Ananta Yanamandra
Potomac, Md.

WHAT MMA CAN TAKE AWAY FROM LANCE ARMSTRONG’S SITUATION<

The condemnation of Lance Armstrong and the revelations that he took performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France got me thinking about if MMA could learn from this. If we look at it in its simplest sporting form (ignoring the bullying and leal action), all Armstrong did was take drugs to ride a bike quicker. Now if you contrast that with MMA, fighters are receiving exemptions to fight on TRT and getting busted for PEDs, and they are actually trying to do damage to another person. As the sport gets more mainstream, is this something that more outlets will pick up on and use to hold back the sport? Has MMA seen a glimpse of the future with the Armstrong scandal? If so, the commissions need to act to make sure the Vitor Belforts of tomorrow don’t become the Lance Armstrong of today.

Stephen Gleeson
Walsall, England

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